Method of introducing carbon, fluxes, &amp;c., into blast-furnaces.



PATENTED JAN. 27, 1903.

v W. J. FOSTBR. I METHOD OF INTRODUCING CARBON, FLUXES &c., INTO BLAST FURNACES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1901.

.NO MODEL.

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METHOD OF INTRODUClNG CARBON, FLUXES, &c., lNTO BLAST-FURNACES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 719,320, dated January 27, 1903. Application filed April 11, 1901. Serial Hussein. on specimens.)

of Stafford, England, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Methods of Introducing Carbon, Fluxes and Mixtures Thereof into Blast-Furnaces in the Manufacture of Iron, of which the following is a specification.

- This invention is an improved method of introducing or supplying solid carbon, fluxes and mixtures of such carbon and fluxes into blast-furnaces in the manufacture of iron, the desideratum being greater economy in the working of the furnaces and a better regulation of the quality of iron produced. Taking, for example, carbon, which is the most important of the substances in question, the present method of supplying it to a blastfurnaoe is to tip it in at the top or mouth of the furnace with the ore and fluxes, the said carbon, which is usually in the form of coke, gradually falling down with the burden into the boshes or upper part of the hearth. This method is a very wasteful one, due to the oxidation of the carbon in its passage from the mouth of the furnace down to the boshes -or hearth}, the said carbon acting upon the 00, passing" upwardly through the shaft of the furnace to convert it into CO, thus delaying to a very great extent the reduction of the oxide of iron and allowing a large portion to pass away from the furnace with the gases as carbonic oxid, the consequence being that at such time as the carbon in the coke or other fuel reaches the boshes and passes to the point of the blast-twyers, where it is most desired, a large amount of its serviceableness has been lost, the frequent result being that the molten iron is'of an inferior grade.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, is shown in cross-sectional elevation an apparatus suitable for carrying out the invention.

Now according to this invention solid carbon, as free as possible from hydrocarbons and moisture, heated to a temperature at least that of the hot blast is introduced intoa blastfurnace directly into the boshes or hearth before its temperature is lowered near the twyers and under the furnace burden, preferably with the blast, but always so that it enters the boshes or hearth adjacent to the melting zone. A particular'feature according to the invention is to super-heat the solid carbonsay to at least 1,000 Fahrenheit-in a retort of ordinary construction and feed the same into the blast trunk or mainsup'plying the blast to the twyers, in this wayintroducing the carbon at a high temperature with the blast and without absorbing any of the heat of the blast, it being understood that theretort Is of that class which will insure the carbon being heated and fed to the blast-trunk being kept free from contact with the atmos phere and so avoid combustion. The carbon so treated may be introduced into the boshes or hearth independent of the blast, suitable mechanical arrangements (forming no part of this invention) being provided to effect the same automatically; but in every instance it must be practically free from hydrocarbons and moisture. Cold blast may be used, and the heated solid carbon may either go in with it or independent of it. The solid carbon may take the form of ,coke, breeze charcoal, or anthracite; but the moisture and hydrocarbons from it must practically be always extracted, preferably by the use of the retort, as defined, before it enters the furnace, although it may be injected into the hearth or boshes either horizontally, in line with the blast, or obliquely.

One of the chief characteristics of this method of introducing carbon into blast-furnaces in the manufacture of iron is that the amount of carbon supplied can be regulated in view of the requirements in order to produce a first class or grade or any other desired class or grade of iron, it being understood that if the slag should show to the attendant that the iron being treated requires it, additional carbon in the condition defined can be put into the boshes or hearth. I do not propose, however, according to this invention to do away entirely with the putting of carbon into the furnace from the top with the material, although it may in practice he found that in some instances such maybe; but in either case the Working of the furnace according to this invention will show a greater efficiency than hitherto. l

In a similar way and condition as carbon is introduced into a blast-furnace, as hereinbefore described, the usual fluxes, as oxide or any other slag-making material, may be injected into the boshes or hearth and this either as a mixture with carbon or independent thereof, according to the requirements of the working.

I wish it to be understood that there is nothing in the construction of the furnace, the twyers, the blast main or trunk, the retort, or other appliance forcarrying the invention into effect which is according to theinveution.

In the drawing, aindicates the hopper that receives the carbon when cold; 0, the internal retort wherein the carbon is heated, it having an external casing, as c", of suitablematerial, or the retort may be of any other suitable form. The retort'has a dischargespout, as f, leading; into the heated-carbon receiver 71, from which latter the heated carbon passes into the hot-blast-supply pipe 1,,

connected with the bustle-pipe j, from which the mingled products flow into the blast-furnace 0 through the blast-pipe 70. d is an inlet for gas employed for heating said retort.

described my invention, What I desire'to secure by Letters Pat- Havingclaim, and out, isv A process of the class described, which consists in heating carbon in a retort to a temperature of approximately 1,000 Fahrenheit, and in feeding the said carbon before its temperatu re is lowered into the hot-blast main of a blast-furnace and blowing it into the meltin; zone through the twyers with she hot blast. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presenceof two subscribing wit uesses.

WILLIAM JAMES FOSTER. \Vitnesses:

GEO. SEERY, A. F. BIDDLE.

the contents of v 

